Synopsis: Ride along through a winter wonderland with a girl, a boy, and their pony — plus a mischievous dog! It’s a joyous adventure to Grandma’s house where a very special guest helps spread the yuletide cheer.

Why I like this story:

Artist Susan Jeffers’ takes children on an enchanted wintry journey set to lyrics of this beloved and joyful holiday song, Jingle Bells. Jeffers’ pastel illustrations are lavish and energetic. Each double-page spread captures the magnificent detail of the winter woodland scenes with romping furry critters, a playful dog bounding alongside the sleigh and a big adventure with a few bumps along the way. The ending is very clever. This book is a lovely keepsake and gift.

Children will have fun searching for the many animals Jeffers has hidden among the trees and in the snowy bushes. There is a picture guide of the hidden winter critters at the end of the book.

Susan Jeffers, the Caldecott Honor and New York Times bestselling artist of The Nutcracker and The Twelve Days of Christmas. She won the ABBY Award from the American Booksellers Association and a Caldecott Honor from the American Library Association. Her work has been exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Her books have sold millions of copies and have been published around the world. Visit Jeffers at her website.

Resources: Take a walk outside in the fresh snow and identify animal footprints. Look for signs of their burrows. Sing Jingle Bells. Go sledding.

Happy holidays everyone!

Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.

Opening/Synopsis: “One wintry day I made a snowman, very round and tall. The next day when I saw him, he was not the same at all!” A boy builds a snowman, but the next morning his snowman has changed. It made him wonder what snowmen do at night. He imagines them sliding away from their homes and going to a park for a night of fun and games with other snowmen.

Why I like this book: Written and illustrated by husband and wife team Caralyn and Mark Buehner, Snowmen at Night is a spectacular and funny book that will spark the imaginations of millions of children. They wrote the story after they opened their front door and discovered the snowman they built the night before, had moved several yards. They wondered… And, so will their young readers. This book is beautifully illustrated and kids will want to study each detail on the page. And, Mark has hidden shapes in his winter scenes that kids will want to search for.

Resources: When it snows, encourage your child to build a snowman, dress it up and watch each day for any changes. Encourage them to make angels in the snow, or help them make snow ice cream.

Opening/Synopsis: “On a crisp, frosty mid-winter’s day, the woodland youngsters ran out to play. The first game that popped into Squirrel’s head was to slide down the hill on a homemade sled. Bear charged forth and crashed down the slope on a sled from boughs tied together with rope.” The four endearing animals –Squirrel, Bear, Owl and Mouse — spend a snowy winter day playing games in the woods. They begin with sledding and each animal makes a sled from twigs, pine cones, a log and a red shoe. Bear suggests that they follow with a snow fight. They each build a snow fort and pack snowballs of all sizes. Once the game ends, Mouse, has the best game idea of all–to build snow animals. Bear, Squirrel and Owl all craft snow critters in their own likeness. But, small Mouse has a vision and creates the biggest snow creature of all. It is Fox, who will decide the winner of the winter snow games.

Why I like this story: Written in verse, Joanna Marple has created an endearing and delightful story about friendship, sportsmanship, and teamwork among the woodland youngsters. Joanna has traveled extensively and developed a passion for the animal world and their plight. She loves to write anthropomorphic stories with animals depicted in their natural environment. Bear is strong, Owl is wise and confident, Squirrel is quick and clever, and Mouse is small and compassionate. Maja Sereda’s digital illustrations are playful and beautifully express this action-packed story. She uses soft pastels to create the magical winter wonderland. The rhyme and illustrations are the perfect ingredients for a fun winter experience.

About uTales: Joanna says uTales is more than just a digital bookstore. “It is built around a community in ways other platforms are not. We want to be a family of creators. ” The Friendship Alphabet book is a good example of how 30 authors and illustrators from 15 different countries created a storybook together. Joanna contributed to this digital book as well. Books are published in English and Swedish. Click here to learn more about uTales children’s ebooks and to sign up for a free trial. uTales was initiated by Swedish businessman, Nils von Heijne. Emma Dryden, of drydenbks, oversees the Editorial Quality uTales Panel.

Joanna Marple grew up surrounded by the architecture and awe of the city of Cambridge, UK, and immersed in the books and the landscapes of the Brontes, Tolkien and Beatrix Potter. Her tall tales were not always appreciated as a young child, but her passion for storytelling remained unfettered and was fuelled by the marvelous people and animals she encountered during her humanitarian work across the continents. More recently her years as school librarian in Southern France relit her passion for children’s books. Her stories focus on her love of the natural world and the richness of the cultures she has encountered in her travels. She lives presently in Nice with two quirky cats and a stream of visitors from all over the globe.